Mechanism for manufacturing chains.



Ptented Mar. 6, I900. A. MASION.

MECHANISM FOR MANUFACTURING CHAINS.

Application filed Nov. 17, 1899.

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ALFRED MASION, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

MECHANISM FOR MANUFACTURING CHAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,991, dated March 6, 1900.

Application filed November 17, 1899. Serial No. 737,370. (No model.)

To all whom it ncay concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED MASION, residing at 88 Rue Dautzenberg, Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for the Manufacture of Chains; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The apparatus described in Masion and Dethiers patent of October 31, 1899, No. 636,157, has for its object to manufacture chains by winding a wire through each immediately-preceding link, the convolutions of each of the links thus formed being afterward soldered or welded together.

In order to wind strips of metal the sectional area of which is rectangular and having such rigidity as to necessitate the employment of a considerable amount of compression during the winding process, it is proposed to modify the apparatus which is described in Masion and Dethiers patent above referred to.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is afront sectional elevation of sufficient of the machine to explain the invention. Fig. 2-is a cross-section on line II II, Fig. 1 and Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are sections of the four segments of the compressing-roller E.

This apparatus consists of a winding-roller constructed in two parts A and B, Figs. 1 and 2, each part being provided with a recess wherein the preceding link is placed. The winding-roller A is arranged between three cylinders or rollers D, D, and E, which serve to retain the said winding-roller in position while imparting to it their rotary motion. The said winding-roller, as shown, is constructed to form circular links, so as to admit of the action of a compressing-roller operating in a uniform manner during the Whole time of the winding process. The groove in the said winding-roller is semicircular, and yet the metal strips are constantly subjected to compression, owing to the peculiar shape of the groove in the upper cylinder or roller E, the action of which roller is to effect such compression, while the two rollers D and D are merely guiding-rollers. The

sectional'form and is of gradually-decreasing radii, so that permanent contact between the periphery of the compressing-roller and the convolutions of the metal being wound is insured as the said convolutions increase on theWinding-roller A. The circumference of the com pressing-roller must therefore be equal to the number of convolutions required to form the thickness of the link multi plied by the mean length of the convolutions, and the number of changes of sectional outline should be equal to the number of convolutions.

Figs. 3, 4:, 5, and 6, respectively, show the first, second, third, and fourth sections of a compressing-roller adapted for the manufacture of links consisting of four superposed windings or convolutions. It will be seen that the section, Fig. 3, which comes into operation at the beginning of the winding process is'of a sufliciently-convex shape to press the first convolution down to the bot tom of the groove in the winding-roller. The next section, Fig. 4, is of a less convexity. In Fig. 5 the sectional outline becomes slightly concave, and in the fourth or last section, Fig. 6, ittakes a full semicircular shape.

The apparatus thus construct-ed enables groove in the roller or cylinder E varies in strips of metal of a certain thickness to be wound, the metal being, it necessary, heated or recessed semicircularly, is retained, and

links of circular section may be produced.

It will be understood that if it be desired to wind metal strips or wire under pressure to produce links other than of circular section it would be necessary to make the groove in the winding-roller of the necessary shape and depth for the reception of the entire thickness of the link, and the compressingroller should be provided with a rib adapted to engage in the groove of the winding-roller, while the radius and sectional outlineof the compressing-roller would in that case be invariable and be capable of rising as the convolutions are being superposed.

Having now particularly described and as certained the nature of this invention and in What manner the same is to be perform ed, I declare that What I claim is In the manufacture of chains by winding through a ring or link, laminze or strips of metal, the combination of a winding-roller in two parts recessed for the insertion of a link, guiding-rollers and a compressing cylinder or roller having in its periphery a groove of 

